Minnesota braces for Thursday's winter storm with snow, blizzard, and flash freeze

A weather alert has been issued for the Twin Cities due to a complex storm bringing rain changing to snow, gusty winds up to 45 mph, and a flash freeze, leading to icy roads and potential travel disruptions. Temperatures will drop significantly, with snow showers expected later in the day and blizzard conditions in northwestern Minnesota, followed by a cold start to Friday and a gradual warming trend into the weekend.